Frustration With Kiosks, Apps, Self-Checkout, and Tipping Prompts

[Seilerbird]

I’ve often wondered if the button actually takes your info and passes it on making you think you are unsubscribing.

Yes, some do that. The only time you should use the unsubscribe button is if you actually subscribed to it in the first place.

 

[Seilerbird]

It is safe to unsubscribe from reputable newsletters or companies you trust, as they must comply with privacy laws. However, for unexpected spam or phishing emails, clicking the button can confirm your email is active or direct you to malicious websites.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I have an issue that the prices on their large screen show the $xx.99 prices.

The legal rationale is that the individual item price on the sign is correct. It's the grand total, including any tax, that gets rounded. So if you bought three of those $4.99 items and no taxes applied, you would actually get a 2 cent discount after rounding. 3 x $4.99 = $14.97, which rounds to $14.95. So take two friend to lunch to come out ahead...

The $x.99 pricing thing is so deeply embedded in the marketing Bible that I doubt if America will ever get away from it.

 

[NY_Dutch]

I’ve often wondered if the button actually takes your info and passes it on making you think you are unsubscribing.

I've seen enough of them work that I keep trying anyway.

 

[Lou Schneider]

I think my trigger is the 9/10 of one cent at filling stations. That's always irritated me; how there's not a penny to split.

But at the pump you're able to buy to the nearest penny. Not so when you're buying discrete products priced at $x.99.

Today the rounding worked to my advantage at the local convenience store. My purchases came to $12.92, I gave them a $20 and got $12 and a dime in change.

 

[Tom]

The legal rationale is that the individual item price on the sign is correct. It's the grand total, including any tax, that gets rounded.

Understood. In this case, the pre-tax price was $4.59, and with $0.40 tax the total was $4.99 which was the total shown on the screen and on the printed receipt. It wouldn't take much effort to automatically add a 'rounding' line to the screen and to the printed receipt.

 

[Tom]

I'm reminded of the first time I visited California from the UK (mid 70's) and went shopping for gifts to take home for the kids. I challenged a store clerk at the checkout because she charged me more than the price posted on the shelf. She explained the difference was sales tax. This seemed strange to me at the time, because posted prices in stores in the UK always include tax, actually VAT (IIRC this was/is a legal requirement). I remembered next time I visited CA.

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Understood. In this case, the pre-tax price was $4.59, and with $0.40 tax the total was $4.99 which was the total shown on the screen and on the printed receipt. It wouldn't take much effort to automatically add a 'rounding' line to the screen and to the printed receipt.

I haven't paid attention to what's on the screen but our local grocery store has a rounding line on the receipt.

 

[Tom]

I haven't paid attention to what's on the screen but our local grocery store has a rounding line on the receipt.

That's how it should be Don.

 

[whiteva]

I have magic Jack for a phone number and a separate Yahoo account for e-mail on those apps. Phone doesn't ring and I clear out Yahoo about once a month. Some of the apps are nice to use occasionally so I keep them handy.

 

[RayIN]

But at the pump you're able to buy to the nearest penny. Not so when you're buying discrete products priced at $x.99.

Today the rounding worked to my advantage at the local convenience store. My purchases came to $12.92, I gave them a $20 and got $12 and a dime in change.

Bought a sandwich yesterday, handed the cashier a $20, got bills and an hand-full of change back, including pennies.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Understood. In this case, the pre-tax price was $4.59, and with $0.40 tax the total was $4.99 which was the total shown on the screen and on the printed receipt. It wouldn't take much effort to automatically add a 'rounding' line to the screen and to the printed receipt.

I know this will make me sound elitist, but that would appeal only to engineers and analysts like you & me. Most buyers would never even notice it, let alone value the information.

Gas pumps have always rounded off the tenths of a cent to the nearest penny and nobody seems to care about that.

 

[Tom]

Gas pumps have always rounded off the tenths of a cent to the nearest penny and nobody seems to care about that.

True, but it never occurred to me to ask for $0.001 change

 

[Lou Schneider]

Gas pumps have always rounded off the tenths of a cent to the nearest penny and nobody seems to care about that.

No, gas pumps round off the amount dispensed to the nearest penny. If you pump $500 worth of gas at $4.999 a gallon you get 100.02 gallons, plus or minus the pump's calibration tolerance.

 

[Tom]

No, gas pumps round off the amount dispensed to the nearest penny. If you pump $500 worth of gas at $4.999 a gallon you get 100.02 gallons, plus or minus the pump's calibration tolerance.

I learn something new every day. I need to pay attention next time I'm pumping gas.

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Shopped at our local Walmart today. I paid with cash and there was a rounding line on the receipt.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

No, gas pumps round off the amount dispensed to the nearest penny. If you pump $500 worth of gas at $4.999 a gallon you get 100.02 gallons, plus or minus the pump's calibration tolerance.

A distinction without a difference, methinks.

 

[Tom]

Today I picked up a milkshake at the McD drivethrough. Same story: $4.59 + $0.40 tax, $4.99 total, $5.00 charged. This time I looked at the receipt and voilla there was a $0.01 roundup line. I wonder if they accumulate the roundup lines and donate them.

 

[Seilerbird]

Grown adults concerned with .001 cent charge. Oh the horror.

 

[Wasillaguy]

Them tiny numbers add up over millions of transactions. Has no one seen Office Space?